linations
contending unconsciously within her.

Replying to Mary's remark over Jane's shoulder, Brandon said:

"Your highness asked us to lay aside ceremony for the evening, and if
I have offended I can but make for my excuse my desire to please you.
Be sure I shall offend no more." This was said so seriously that his
meaning could not be misunderstood. He did not care whether he pleased
so capricious a person or not.

Mary made no reply, and it looked as if Brandon had the worst of it.

We sat a few minutes talking, Mary wearing an air of dignity. Cards
were proposed, and as the game progressed she gradually unbent again
and became as affable and familiar as earlier in the evening. Brandon,
however, was frozen. He was polite, dignified and deferential to the
ladies, but the spirit of the evening was gone, since he had furnished
it all with his free, off-hand manner, full of life and brightness.

After a short time, Mary's warming mood failing to thaw our frozen
fun-maker, and in her heart infinitely preferring pleasure to dignity,
she said: "Oh, this is wearisome. Your game is far less entertaining
than your new dance. Do something to make me laugh, Master Brandon."

"I fear you must call in Will Sommers," he replied, "if you wish to
laugh. I can not please you in both ways, so will hold to the one
which seems to suit the princess."

Mary's eyes flashed and she said ironically:

"That sounds very much as though you cared to please me in any way."
Her lips parted and she evidently had something unkind ready to say;
but she held the breath she had taken to speak it with, and, after one
or two false starts in as many different lines, continued: "But
perhaps I deserve it, I ask you to forgive me, and hereafter desire
you three, upon all proper occasions, when we are by ourselves, to
treat me as one of you--as a woman--a girl, I mean. Where is the
virtue of royalty if it only means being put upon a pinnacle above all
the real pleasures of life, like foolish old Stylites on his column?
The queen is always preaching to me about the strict maintenance of my
'dignity royal,' as she calls it, and perhaps she is right; but out
upon 'dignity royal' say I; it is a terrible nuisance. Oh, you don't
know how difficult it is to be a princess and not a fool. There!" And
she sighed in apparent relief.

Then turning to Brandon: "You have taught me another good lesson, sir,
and from this hour you are my friend, if you will be, so